Jay Stewart didn’t start out to be a pastor. He thought God had called him to be a minister of music and pointed his career in that direction. But after serving for several years in that capacity, he realized God had another plan for his life. So, he went to the seminary and became a preacher. Now, he’s right where God wants him to be.

“God called me to full-time vocational ministry as a college student in my home church,” he says. “I began leading songs at Wednesday night prayer meetings. From there God has continued to confirm my calling as a minister of the Gospel.”

He spent two years as Minister of Music at Calvary Baptist, Gadsden, Alabama, six years as Youth/Music Minister at White Springs Baptist in nearby Rainbow City, then six years as Youth/Music Minister at Center Hill Baptist, Loganville, Georgia. He later pastored at Dwight Baptist in Gadsden and became pastor of FBC Ashville in 2014. “I believe in loving people as Christ loved them and working hard in the place God calls you,” Dr. Stewart says

Born in 1972 in Gadsden, raised in nearby Southside, Bro. Jay, as his church family calls him, was saved as a 7-year-old in Vacation Bible School at Southside Baptist Church. He graduated from Southside High School and received his BA in Music from Jacksonville State University (JSU). He completed a Master of Divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from Luther Rice University.

He and his wife, Candi, were married in 1996 and have two children. Nate, 21, is a student at Auburn University. Callie, 19, attends JSU.

At FBC Stewart plays guitar in the church’s praise band, and occasionally will sing a solo during a Sunday morning service. But his favorite part about his ministry is serving his church family. “The people of our church are amazing,” he says. “They display their love for God, His Word, one another, their community, and the world on a daily basis and there is genuine joy in our fellowship.”

During his leisure time, he likes to fish, play the guitar and do CrossFit at CrossFit Rabid in Rainbow City.